OT: Hypothetical Question Time - Which State?

mklwhite · Post by **mklwhite** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:48 am

Hypothetical scenario:
You are about to retire. You must move to another state. Your retirement income is whatever you may reasonably think your retirement income to be (no hitting the lottery in this scenario).

Hypothetical question:
What would the state be?
Of course don't forget;
Gun rights
Good hunting
Affordability/Taxes
and anything else you wish to factor in.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:52 am

Southern state, away from the big cities. I'm biased, but SC is a good choice. Gun friendly, low cost of living. Not more than a few hours from the coast or mountains no matter where you live. No real large game though - maybe some big aligators down south!

mklwhite · Post by **mklwhite** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:02 am

Ysabel - But which southern state? Would it need to be near the ocean or would that matter?

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:05 am

North Dakota.
The state budget is in the black.
Get a super-insulated home with a geothermal heatpump.

Learn to ice-fish.

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:06 am

New Mexico, no ocean; but it has all the other criterion.

major · Post by **major** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:10 am

me and my wife have been looking into possibly moving to New Mexico in the near future still gathering information about it tho....is it a hunter friendly state? or is it a state that has draws for there hunts? any info would be helpfull.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:24 am

I'd go back to Alaska.

N. Id/NE Wa by the Canukian border is also good.

Wife wants NM/AZ.

Post by **Hobie** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:26 am

I'm here in VA. We see a LOT of northeast US residents who retire here. Taxes are still much, much less. They are reasonably close to family and friends who still live in the northeast. The weather isn't extreme. There are a number of things to do. The cost of living isn't as high as in much of the country. I would rather I was more rural but one does have some trade offs and there are two of us in this equation.

major · Post by **major** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:30 am

Hobie I live in TN now for 3 years and noticed there isn't much hunting in the state like I am used to in MS. is VA more greared toward hunters? long season , bag limits? access to hunting area's?

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:40 am

Check out western Montana, climate is not as bad as people think. Low taxes and plenty of room.

major · Post by **major** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:48 am

is montana on a draw system or do they have an open season for public hunting.

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:05 am

Depends on what critter you are hunting for. If you are a property owner you can get your license annually for big game.

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:08 am

I'm enjoying this thread...keep it coming fellas!

Mokwaw · Post by **Mokwaw** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:16 am

With retirement thoughts now coming up quite often, this question has come to mind. Having lived in the mid-west (Illinois, Michigan,Indiana) my entire life, I'm getting tired of the snow, ice and cold every year. Arizona, New Mexico, Tennessee, Alabama are on the short list. Although my wife says we have to remain fairly close (8 hour drive) to kids and grandkids. The coast has no real appeal to me, I'm not a big water person, I'll take woods and rivers, although my wife has allergies to many trees, and likes the salt air of the oceans and gulf area, she can breath easier, and breathing is a good thing. So, it is still a guess as to where we end up.

flb · Post by **flb** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:24 am

I was born and raised in beautiful Colorado, shot my first elk at 14, same with deer, next year antelope. Hiked, backpacked, shot trap for 35 years and loved every minute of it. BUT, I can't recommend it anymore. We have been taken over by left wing liberals, they control every aspect of government, the school system, everything. It is expensive to live here, hunting still good for sure but it is sinking further and further into the socialist quagmire.

Post by **Hobie** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:46 am

major wrote:Hobie I live in TN now for 3 years and noticed there isn't much hunting in the state like I am used to in MS. is VA more geared toward hunters? long season , bag limits? access to hunting area's?

Depends on where you are and what you want to hunt just as it does everywhere else.

major · Post by **major** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 10:09 am

Thanks for the reply hobie.....I will look up the details online I only live 20 minute drive from VA state line.

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 11:53 am

Don't want to quote N.M. hunting regs out of context, they can be had online.
As a property owner I am ok in my area, but you should check.
Laws are friendly, I don't regard anything as onerous, alternative energy friendly, just put up a wind generator.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 12:55 pm

Well, considering my current financial situation, I need to retire to a state that still has homesteading land available.

If there is any such place.

Joe

alnitak · Post by **alnitak** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 1:25 pm

Being near to both big water and mountains would be one of my going in criteria. Also, I'm not particularly fond of cold weather (otherwise Alaska would be at the top of my list). Having said that, the short list of states I would consider (in no particular order) are NC, SC, Alaska, Montana, Texas, Virginia, Oregon and Arizona. Oh, and the western & panhandle part of Florida.

zack coyote · Post by **zack coyote** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:23 pm

TEXAS! I'm suuprised no one has spoken up for Texas. No state income tax. Mountains-west Texas, Plains-central Texas, Woods-East Texas, Hills- south central Texas, desert- south Texas, ocean- Gulf Coast. Two month Deer/gun season. More hogs than you could ever kill. Hot Hot in July and August, but that's when you go vivit the kids. Not much public land, but everyone can find an affordable deer lease, and there are plenty of game farms with exotic animals. 125 grand will find you a decent house with 5 acres. Many big cities, and hundreds of tiny towns. We don't have many lakes, but most are big, and well stocked. I live near a small town called Hawkins, in a cabin in the woods. Hogs 100yds from my door, a great Bass lake 1/4 mile away. I love it. You can carry a gun in your car even if you don't have a license to carry. BIG gun shows. Try it, you'll like it.

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:29 pm

Wyoming, only try and stay away from the areas currently in the thros of the energy boom, and the inflated housing prices. Also some of the "pretty places" where the "pretty people go such as Buffalo,Sheridan, Cody and Jackson.

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:32 pm

flb wrote:I was born and raised in beautiful Colorado, shot my first elk at 14, same with deer, next year antelope. Hiked, backpacked, shot trap for 35 years and loved every minute of it. BUT, I can't recommend it anymore. We have been taken over by left wing liberals, they control every aspect of government, the school system, everything. It is expensive to live here, hunting still good for sure but it is sinking further and further into the socialist quagmire.

That is truly a shame. One of the most beautiful states period. I had the fortune to be stationed in Colorado Springs for 2+ years back in the 80's and got to visit alot of your fine state, and only recently have gone back to Pagosa Springs area(except for the rude rich folks, just absolute Paradise). If it wasn't for the Liberal takeover I would love to go back... may go back just to spite them.

That or Texas sounds good!

Warhawk · Post by **Warhawk** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:40 pm

NW Arkansas for me. But I'm biased, have a lot of family up there, and have considered it "home" (even though I haven't lived there in a long time) since I was a kid.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:45 pm

A local police officer told me Indiana has the highest percentage of the population holding CCW permits (about 390,000 permits in a state of maybe 6 million - knock out the kids and nursing home residents, and you have about 1 in 10 adults with a CCW permit!), and you can own full auto here without hassle.

Before anyone goes "Who needs full-auto...I just like my leverguns?" just remember that if you live in a state which doesn't get all uppity about someone owning an M-60 belt-fed, they really aren't likely to hassle you about owning that .45-70 or carrying a .357...

Cost of living is low. Plenty of rural areas. The southern 1/3 of the state is actually nice and hilly, so owning even a few acres gives you way more privacy (and cushions the noise if you shoot) than the flatlanders get with larger parcels.

Health care is going socialist here like everywhere else, but there are more holdouts and some decent docs still around, especially in rural areas.

Homeschooling is considered 'normal' here, as well.

alnitak · Post by **alnitak** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:54 pm

zack coyote wrote:TEXAS! I'm suuprised no one has spoken up for Texas.

It's on my short list.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:04 pm

AJMD429 wrote:A local police officer told me Indiana has the highest percentage of the population holding CCW permits (about 390,000 permits in a state of maybe 6 million - knock out the kids and nursing home residents, and you have about 1 in 10 adults with a CCW permit!), ...

'Course, unless you have your own property to shoot on, if you want to shoot a handgun "legally" at all you are essentialy REQUIRED to have a CCW...

Just ask a poor Illannoyan who wants to shoot at a Indiana Facility that has cops in attendence. Most will do the "don't ask don't tell" thing, but on those ranges run by the DNR some of the Range Masters can get a might touchy...

JustaJeepGuy · Post by **JustaJeepGuy** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:34 pm

Old Ironsights wrote:...some of the Range Masters can get a might touchy...

"Masters" being the key word--another name for "power junkies".

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:41 pm

JustaJeepGuy wrote:
Old Ironsights wrote:...some of the Range Masters can get a might touchy...
"Masters" being the key word--another name for "power junkies".

True... but according to "the law" they are right.

That's the problem with "laws" like this. A shall CCW is a great thing... unless it's mandatory. At which point it is really nothing more than "we want to know who is carrying a gun" Gunowner Registration.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:47 pm

I think about the same thing.

I'm thinking Alabama, long deer season, none of that shotgun only nonsense, etc.

Another idea is West Virginia, in some of those areas near the Ohio border people have left because there are no jobs. I also hear places like Nebraska have cheap rents in the small towns.

The south is probably the best idea, only I've just learned some of them don't allow hunting on Sundays! Of course, if you're retired, you have the rest of the week.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:18 pm

Old Ironsights wrote: That's the problem with "laws" like this. A shall CCW is a great thing... unless it's mandatory. At which point it is really nothing more than "we want to know who is carrying a gun" Gunowner Registration.

True enough, but my point isn't to brag that we are a "shall issue" state - although that is better than every OTHER state's system excepting Vermont's. My point is the NUMBER of people who have gotten the license is an indication of just how pro-gun the citizenry is. And probably only about 20% of the gun owners have bothered to get CCW licenses.

If you live in any state where the odds are that on any elevator full of adults, one is packing a gun, you likely live in a very safe, and freedom-oriented, state.

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:47 pm

El Chivo wrote:. I also hear places like Nebraska have cheap rents in the small towns.

.

Probably the one word that describes Nebraskas taxing authority would be oppressive.

Property taxes extreme, sales tax obscene, income tax devasting, and I don't even want to think what those folks over there have to pay for license plates.

Fishing licenses are cheap tho.

Rexster · Post by **Rexster** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:12 pm

I cannot say I have checked much into other states, but I will be glad to stand up for Texas, which is where I will live at least until I retire myself. In no particular order:

(1) Texas has no state income tax. Sales tax is 6.25% to the state; localities will be as much as 2% more, usually 1% for the city and 1% for the locales that have regional or municipal mass transit.

(2) Property taxes are not the lowest among the states, but if you will not own much real estate, this is much less of an issue. That is why so many snowbirds use a mobile home park in Texas as their home address. No real estate to tax, and by their home base being Texas, no state income tax.

(3) Firearms laws are a mixed bag. Rifles and shotguns can be carried most places, openly or concealed, loaded or unloaded, with no license or permit required. Hunting/game laws are more specific regarding long guns, but if not in a hunting area, that is of little to no concern. Some federal areas are also no-gun, or limited-gun.

(4) Handgun laws, OTOH, are not nearly so friendly as some Texans think, but quite good compared to many states. The "30.06" sign, if properly posted, is a thorn in the side of CHL holders. "30.06" is not a rifle cartridge, but the applicable portion of the Penal Code. Texas is shall-issue, and a training class and qual course are required. Carry of a handgun inside one's vehicle no longer requires a license, if you follow all the fine print of the law. I will not try to interpret it; it is available on-line. A good part of rural Texas is that LEOs tend to be VERY gun-friendly folks; their attitudes gave rise to the myth that open carry is legal in Texas; it is NOT.

(5) Local district attorneys have a lot of say in how laws are enforced in their counties. Pay attention to the local political climate when choosing a retirement home.

(6) Notably for older folks, there have been some incidents in which older people have used deadly force against younger and fitter but unarmed attackers, and have been cleared by grand juries.

(7) Texas does have a version of a castle doctrine.

(8) Good medical care is readily available in Houston, for sure.

(9) Climate can be what you want. High Plains climate in the Panhandle, as cold as Montana, to near-tropical along the coast, about like Florida.

(10) Cost of living and real estate prices tend to be lower than many other states; real estate varies with the area, with booming areas more costly.

None of these ten factors may stand alone as best in the USA, but taken together, are something to consider.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:29 pm

For one thing, stay the heck out of Pennsylvania. While we have the best gun and hunting laws east of the Mississippi, we also have the highest taxes.

We currently have 400,000 ccw holders.---- A gun show every weekend-----ownership of full auto-------------a million hunters with a quarter million deer harvested every year-------turkey hunting that is nearly unequaled---------but........................

our big cities are zoo's. crime is rampant. the "others" are taking over.

Everything is taxed

If I was going to retire, it would be in Southern Utah, near Moab. I visited there a bit ago and loved the large open areas--low humidity.......and nice people---no "others"-----------Sixgun

Catshooter · Post by **Catshooter** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:37 pm

This was not a hypothetical question for me. I retired to South Dakota this last August.

No big water, no mountains, sorry.

But this is heaven to me & my wife. Low taxes, low cost of living, excellent attitudes/laws for firearms.

Took me ten minutes and ten dollars to walk out of the sherrifs office with my concealed carry permit in hand.

The people are wonderful here.

Cat

waz · Post by **waz** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:45 pm

Tasmania. If I had to move from Queensland, it'd be Tassie.

W

66GTO · Post by **66GTO** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:51 pm

alnitak wrote: Oh, and the western & panhandle part of Florida.

10-4 on Northwest Florida, good buddy. No income tax, reasonable house prices, plenty of rural areas, public and private hunting land, but we do have to dodge the occasional hurricane. Oh, and good fishing (see my avatar)!

Leverluver · Post by **Leverluver** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:03 pm

FYI, the official end to the homestead act, in the lower 48, was in the mid 70s although it had been near impossible for near 40 years before that. Homesteading officially ended in Alaska in the mid 80s. Watch out for Montana properety taxes. If you have a "nice" place, you will get hammered. I know many folks that left Montana specifically because of their property taxes. I agree with Don, stay away from Nebraska. South Dakota, at least in the western third is pretty good. I lived in Colorado for 15 years and concur with the stated sentiment. I still think Colorado is the most beautiful state in the lower 48 but I would never live there again. Nothing wrong with it that a couple well placed neutron bombs couldn't fix. (kidding of course, I sold my last neutron bomb

)

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:53 pm

Leverluver wrote: Watch out for Montana properety taxes. If you have a "nice" place, you will get hammered.

Well - glad to see it's "fair" - we can't have someone working all their life, saving up, and buying, fixing up, or making a really nice place! Gotta tax the heck out of them and hand the money to everyone else. The funny part is the Libs who want to do all the taxing claim they are of a higher order because they don't worship money the way other materialistic people do. If that's the case, why do they obsess over who has what so much...?

mklwhite · Post by **mklwhite** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 10:42 pm

For those interested I thought I'd drop this link to an article that shows a breakdown of tax information and average home prices by state capitals.

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 10:47 pm

That tax link thing made me remember,
my mother does not pay property tax on her house because she is the widow of a veteran.
I know it is not a plesant thing to talk about, but it is a consideration.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 12:18 am

I told my wife just the other day that if I never left Fla. again I could die happy.

There's plenty of fishin. Hogs are thick as fleas. we were one of the first state to have a shall issue CCW and most of the rest of the states are slowly following our lead on a lot of their gun related laws as well. Taxes are higher in some areas than others.

I figured out when I had to take that generator to Ky to cover folks up there because of the ice storms I'd rather have my hurricanes any day.

JohnnyReb · Post by **JohnnyReb** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 1:05 am

Northeast Georgia in the mountains USED to be a great place......actually too great.

Have had a huge influx of retirees from the big cities of the northeast: not as much land to hunt and fish; they demand more services so taxes are going up; demanding land use and zoning regulations which restricts freedoms. We enjoy a very temperate climate with 4 seasons: mild winters with some snow; beautiful cool fall; warm bright spring; and a not too hot summer. Unfortunately, this great setting is both a blessing and a curse. Anybody and everybody is welcome, but when you move here from some other place and want to change our region to be more like your hometown, just remember that something made you move!!

claybob86 · Post by **claybob86** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 2:03 am

flb wrote:I was born and raised in beautiful Colorado, shot my first elk at 14, same with deer, next year antelope. Hiked, backpacked, shot trap for 35 years and loved every minute of it. BUT, I can't recommend it anymore. We have been taken over by left wing liberals, they control every aspect of government, the school system, everything. It is expensive to live here, hunting still good for sure but it is sinking further and further into the socialist quagmire.

Get on out here! We NEED every conservative voter we can get!

stinson · Post by **stinson** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 3:03 am

Let's see. Where can you hunt brown bears, Dall sheep, and mountain goats without having to pay a guide $10,000-$15,000 a pop? Plus musk ox, moose, caribou, elk, black bear, wolves, Kodiak Sitka blacktails, and (maybe) bison? Plus a free, permanent hunting/trapping/fishing license at age 60? Guess I'll stay put.......

flb · Post by **flb** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 6:16 am

Know what you mean claybob, I write letters to the editor, send e-mails, talk to people but the darn Dems just keep on winnin everything. Ritter is an idiot, Hick is a joke and we just got Markey elected and she is a flaming lib, female lib at that. If it wasn't for the grandkids I'b be in Arizona or Texas. But I do see your point.

Pop Watts · Post by **Pop Watts** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:17 am

QUEENSLAND.
And the far North of that great state that I grew up in.

Sorry to confuse you, Queensland is in Australia.
Pop.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 12:32 pm

Pop,

Nope, no confusion here. I printed out a map of Australia so I could get an idea of where you guys live down there. This forum has a bunch of Aussies so I got curious.

Next I'm gonna print a map of England for them guys.

Joe

2571 · Post by **2571** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 12:54 pm

CA. obviously. :>)

bogus bill · Post by **bogus bill** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 1:36 pm

Well, since I moved to utah, I got to say utah. I live in south west utah 4 years ago. No place is perfect, but this aint bad. We live at cedar city. Thats 50 miles north of St. George. 90 miles northeast of mesquite nevada. I live at almost 6,000 ft. We get all seasons and it doesnt get real hot, but does only 50 miles away. Town is a collage town of about 25,000 in and around. Nice walmart etc, and everything you need. Get out of town any direction and its all empty wide open spaces and mountains forever. One hour away from bryce canyon, cedar brakes, zion national parks. Deer, elk, mountain goats, antelope, wild horses, turkeys, poligamists, cowboys & indians. I-15 goes through here to salt lake, vegas and down to L.A. 3 hour drive to vegas.
Houseing is cheap, taxs not bad. Dont be looking for a job though. 10,000 ft mountains 10 miles away, or hotter than hell desert is 50 miles. Good free shooting range nearby. Probley best place in the country to explore with a quad, which is my big thing. Getting a ccw is no problem. We are not morman but most everybody is. We have not been bothered by them at all. Good people. I have neighbors that come over and shovel the snow, dont even tell you they done it, have them put up christmass lights on the house so this old fat man doesnt fall off the roof. Compared to southern california where I done my career, there is no crime. You see next to no garfeetii etc. There are a few lakes and resivores in the mountains less than a hour away. Out of town its all BLM land forever. We are a days drive back to relatives in california or colorado.
Actually what I do miss compared to wisconsin, is the hardwood trees, real green country etc. Also unless you count trails, there just isnt that many paved roads around here. I like driveing somewhere new everyday. But once you live here a year or less, you will find there is no "new" place to go in a couple hour drive! Pretty as it is, its a looong ways to anyplace else! Mesquite is a nice casino town 1 1/2 hour away. 90 miles. But with the meltdown I quit gambling. Good eats though. Yup, its a good area to carry a gun and explore with a atv. Here is a picture of our house and street to show you things aint always like you visualise!